Notes on a Scorecard - June 15, 1995

These might have been the most exciting NBA playoffs ever if they had stopped after the semifinals. . . .

Most of the juice went out of the finals when Orlando blew Game 1 to Houston in overtime at the O-rena. . . .

Hakeem Olajuwon and good company never looked back as they became the least likely NBA championship repeater of all time. . . .

That title used to belong to the 1968-69 Boston Celtics. . . .

Boston was 48-34 in the regular season and seeded fourth in what was a four-team Eastern Division playoff field before defeating Philadelphia, New York and then the Lakers in a seven-game final. . . .

The Rockets were 47-35 in the regular season and seeded sixth in the eight-team Western Conference playoffs before upsetting Utah, Phoenix and San Antonio and sweeping the Magic. . . .

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How tough a sell is major league baseball the year after the strike? . . .

For their first 21 home dates, the Angels sold 136,842 fewer tickets than last season despite the improvement in their overall record from 17-24 to 27-18. . . .

The difference in actual attendance is even greater. . . .

Besides the lingering aftertaste of the strike, it is going to take a while for Anaheim fans to believe this team is for real after all the disappointments over the years. . . .

I’ll be surprised if Marcel Lachemann’s team doesn’t remain a contender for the American League West title the rest of the season. . . .

Look at the roster and it matches up well with any of the other three in the division. . . .

Among the keys could be Garret Anderson, the 22-year-old rookie left fielder from Kennedy High in Granada Hills who has just begun to get a chance to play regularly. . . .

The Angels’ goodwill campaign continues Sunday at Anaheim Stadium when Chili Davis, Greg Myers, Rex Hudler and Mike Bielecki sign autographs starting at 11:30 a.m. before the game against Chicago. . . .

Baseball teams should be able to trade for future draft choices in addition to receiving them as compensation for free agent losses. . . .

Imagine how tempting it would be for the Angels to trade up in the draft next year so they could pick Mark Kotsay, the slugger from nearby Cal State Fullerton. . . .

I can think of a lot better places than New York for Darryl Strawberry to try his latest comeback. . . .

It’s time to change the rule that doesn’t allow an official scorer to concede a double play and charge an error. Jose Offerman’s bad throw to first base after a force at second Tuesday in Pittsburgh eventually cost Dodger pitcher Ismael Valdes three earned runs. . . .

The Say No men’s basketball classic will start Friday at Cal State L.A., and the championship game will be Aug. 12. Teams featuring UCLA and USC players will compete Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free. Action is from 7 p.m. to 10 Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. . . .

Leigh Steinberg’s Drive for the Cure Golf Classic, a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, will be Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. Among those participating will be Carnell Lake, Johnnie Morton, Kerry Collins and Steve Hendrickson. . . .

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Riddick Bowe--who has the skills but often has lacked the passion--is overdue for a good performance against Jorge Luis Gonzalez in their heavyweight bout that will be televised by HBO from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday. . . .

Michael Nunn looked OK winning his comeback fight over Earl Butler on a 10-round decision the other night, but I don’t think Roy Jones Jr. has anything to worry about. . . .

Representatives of Riddell, which manufactures football helmets, expect to meet soon with George Foreman to discuss improved headgear for fighters that could be used in professional bouts. . . .

Vaclav Nedomansky Jr., the son of the former NHL player, will be in the L.A. Blades’ lineup when they open their home Roller Hockey International season Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Forum against San Diego. . . .

Detroit’s firepower should prevail over New Jersey’s muscle and goaltending in six games in the Stanley Cup championship series. . . .

Five former UCLA Bruins--Corey Pavin, Steve Pate, Duffy Waldorf, Brandt Jobe, and Brad Bell--will play in the U.S. Open starting today. . . .

It would be nice to see Pavin make the Open his first major title. Well, if not, then the PGA in August at Riviera, which is just down the road from UCLA.